They're responsible for:

• developing and monitoring maritime safety rules and marine protection rules
• certifying seafarers and registering ships
• conducting safety inspections of all NZ and foreign-flagged ships calling at NZ ports
• investigating and analysing maritime accidents and accident trends
• promoting safe recreational boating on NZ’s seas, rivers and lakes
• educating the maritime community about best practice in safety and environmental standards
• ensuring that relevant port facilities and New Zealand ships meet the requirements of the Maritime Security Act 2004 and various international rules
• providing and operating lighthouses and other aids to navigation for ships on the NZ coast
• providing a coastal maritime safety and distress radio service
• managing the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand search and rescue response service
• responding to distress calls and beacon activations
• providing a Marine Pollution Response Service, with a dedicated team of trained oil spill response experts
• maintaining the NZ Marine Oil Spill Response Strategy and National Contingency Plan
• minimising the effects of pollution from ships offshore oil and gas platforms
• coordinating responses to major marine pollution spills
• administering the NZ Oil Pollution Fund.